LAUSR

The 42 nd Congress of the Spanish Association of Cuniculture (ASESCU) was held in Murcia from 11 th to 12 th May 2017, hosted by the University of Murcia’s Veterinary Faculty. The main papers focussed on analysing the situation of rabbit farming in the Murcia region, the demedicalisation of rabbit health management, a new law on farmers’ organisations and the main presentation forms of infections associated with Staphylococcus aureus . A specific session was devoted to explaining the objectives and progress of the research projects supported by the partnership between the Spanish Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) and the Rabbit Meat Marketing Board (INTERCUN). In addition, two round tables were held, one on the alternatives to massive use of antibiotics and the other on the farmers’ organisations. Moreover, a total of 28 communications were presented both in working sessions with oral communications and posters (reproduction and genetics, pathology, ethology and welfare, management and production, nutrition and feeding and meat quality). The meeting was attended by more than 160 participants, including researchers from Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Venezuela and Ecuador, among other countries. Abstracts of the contributions presented are reported below.